Newmarket councillors delay decision on Hollingsworth sale
YorkRegion.com
Oct. 1, 2015
Chris Simon
It appears Newmarket councillors may be preparing for life after the Hollingsworth Arena.
During a meeting Monday, the town’s committee of the whole deferred a motion regarding Hollingsworth until mid-October.
The recommendation calls for staff to initiate a public process for the proposed disposition of the Hollingsworth land.
It also asks staff to work with Pickering College representatives to finalize an agreement on capital and operating costs for a replacement arena on school grounds — with a project estimate and agreement being presented to council within 45 days after the motion is approved.
“Our whole intention is to make more information available,” Mayor Tony Van Bynen said. “We’re trying to share as much as we can without compromising the confidentiality of negotiations and proprietary interests that might exist. Pickering needs to address the same issue — it kind of dovetails nicely, in terms of meeting our needs and theirs. Nothing has been predetermined yet. We’re still at the discussion stage. It’s a matter of being able to define where the best value is for the municipality.”
If that deal falls through, staff will be tasked with obtaining a construction costing and capital and operating forecast for a third ice pad at the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex. Those reports will be presented to council within 60 days after the motion is approved.
San Michael Homes Developments is attempting to purchase the Hollingsworth land from the town. The site, which is located near the Davis Drive and Patterson Street intersection in Newmarket, is part of a three-property, $130-million redevelopment proposal.
If completed as planned, the redevelopment would include two apartment buildings, townhomes, retail stores and park space. A ‘town square’, which could host everything from special events in the summer to a temporary ice pad during winter months, is also part of the plan.
San Michael hopes to begin construction in March 2017.
